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Puncture

Coverage by Nobuhiro Hosoki

Story : Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), his longtime friend and partner, is the straight-laced and responsible yin to Mike's yang. Their mom-and-pop personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job.

Opened September 23, 2011

Runtime:1 hr. 39 min.

Interview with Actor Chris Evans

 

(Q) : So Chris is it more pressure to make something like this, based on a real-life situation or to be a superhero?
 
(Chris Evans) : There's pressure in different ways. Most movies you make you hope people will see it. You don't know if it will reach an audience. "Captain America," there's no question people are going to see it, people are going to have an opinion, and you will be judged. And there are obviously people who hold that character true to their heart, they have an expectation, so there's pressure in that regard. "Puncture" is tricky because it's a true story. So it might not reach the masses, it might not have the same ripple effect, but to a very select few it's their world. And that's pressure; that's terrifying.
 
(Q) : After you made the movie did you get a chance to do more research about what has happened with syringes and the whole medical thing? Has it stirred a greater interest in that subject or have you ever had a chance to follow up on it?
 
(Chris Evans) : I wrapped this movie and the day I wrapped it I started work on the next one.

(Q) : I understand that now they do have the single use syringes.
 
(Chris Evans): That wasn't as a result of the film, but there are a number of hospitals. Actually, I think the hospital that Mark and Adam's parents work in use the needle.
 
(Q) : Did you get to meet his family before?
 
(Chris Evans): Oh yeah. I met his brother, I met his father, I met his friends, co-workers, college roommates. I met as many people as I possibly could who knew him.
 
(Q) : You were talking about the resonant effect of a film like this. When you make a film like this obviously it's not going to have the audience of "Captain America" and all. Do you ever have any expectations hoping to effect or change people as a result of the movies?
 
(Chris Evans) : Of course. That's why I make the movie. Of course you hope.
 
(Q) : When you read the script did it piss you off as much as it pissed me off when I watched the film?
 
(Chris Evans) : Yeah. It's a frustrating thing. That was part of the appeal to the film; not only did I like the character and the script, the story, and the directors, but there was a message in there, there was a topic that needed to be addressed, so it's kind of like two birds one stone.
 
(Q) : When you talked to Paul, was there any surprise element you found out about Mike? Did you find any fascinating elements about Mike?
 
(Chris Evans): Everything about Mike is fascinating; he's a fascinating guy. Independent of the drug stuff, yes he's a drug addict, yes he's a functioning drug addict, but there are dozens of functioning drug addicts, this guy was brilliant. This guy wasn't just a drug addict, he was something else. Every person that I talked to who knew Mike just said that he was the smartest guy they knew.

Every person said that this guy was borderline genius, and any time you've got someone that clever there's a level of isolation. People who are that smart there's a selfishness that goes along with that brilliance. It's a burden and they leave people in their wake, oftentimes unintentionally.
 
(Q) : After learning as much about him as you did, was he the type of you think you would have been friends with?
 
(Chris Evans) : Probably. Yeah.
 
(Q) : You have that little gonzo side to you?
 
(Chris Evans) : Do you?
 
(Q) : I do, yes.
 
(Chris Evans) : There you go.
 
(Q) : So you'll be friends with me then.
 
(Chris Evans) : There we go. Let's get out of here.
 
(Q) : The movie implies that he was murdered. Was there any follow up on that?
 
(Chris Evans) : The movie tries to address the many different opinions that the people dear to him felt. We took a story that a lot of people are passionate about, that a lot of people care about, and it would have been a disservice to not address certain people's opinions. And there are people in his family that suspect foul play, and if we just breezed past it I don't think it would have been fair.
 
(Q) : Was there any follow up on that? Do they have any leads on it?
 
(Chris Evans) : No. There's never been any proof of it.
 
(Q) : It seems like there's a new glut of movies coming out that are really strong, powerful movies that we haven't seen in a while in that kind of genre.
 
(Chris Evans) : Have we not seen one in a while? I think maybe they might not be up at the forefront. There are always movies like that. I think most movies have a message, whether they're impactful, topical stuff like this, or whether it's a movie like "Where the Wild Things Are." Every movie has a message, every movie has a point and a purpose and a reasoning. Hopefully every film you see.
 
(Q) : Oh I meant more of like [05:11].
 
(Chris Evans) : Sure. But there have been a lot of films like that. I feel like there are always film s like this going on, it's just a matter of whether or not people are checking them out.
 
(Q) : Yeah, but it seems like in adding this to your catalog you're adding this kind of film, which I think is a good step because a lot of things you've done before this…
 
(Chris Evans) : Suck.
 
(Q) : No. I love "Sunshine," for example.
 
(Chris Evans) : One.
 
(Q) : But I think going forward I think this is good that you're adding this to your catalog. Do you think you're going to seek out some other films that might have some topics that you're motivated by or that are coming to you as a result of this?

(Chris Evans) : Again, it was nice to have the element of a subject that deserved attention laced within a film, but that wasn't the reason I did the film. The reason I did the movie to be honest was because I just loved the character. I got 20 pages in and was like "I love this guy. I want to play this guy. I want to do this. This is the guy I want to be." And again, the fact that it had all these other layers to it was fantastic, but by no means am I like yeah, I need to go find another movie with a message. I liked the character, I liked who he was.

It was one of those movies you just read and in the first 20 pages I got on my feet and started doing the lines. I started practicing monologues and speeches. Some movies you just want to say the words, you just want to play the character. I just wanted to play him.
 
(Q) : A lot of times in our society, especially lately, the best way to get a message across is through a movie. You could tell this story through a newscast and people would say "Oh that's a shame" and then they move on.
 
(Chris Evans): Yeah.
 
(Q) : But when they see it acted out it really impacts them. What do you think about that? Do you think that's a good thing, a bad thing?
 
(Chris Evans) : That's why I make movies, man. In my opinion I don't know any other form of art or media that can affect people the way movies can. I really don't. I really don't. You have this great blend of cinematography, this visual art and music and performance, and these things come together and if done correctly, I know it sounds ridiculous, but it can change your world. It sounds so cheesy but it really can. You can open people's eyes, you can change views. Films just stay with you differently than in my opinion anything else. That's why I act. I love movies, man. I love movies.

(Q) : What was the last film that stayed with you?
 
(Chris Evans) : "Bucky Larson."
 
(Q) : Did it inspire you to make a porn movie or what?
 
(Q) : I was reading the reactions to a movie like "Planet of the Apes," and oddly enough, even though it's a science-fiction film the way people were reacting to that film it did stimulate commentary that made even seeing something in a comic book wouldn't, but as a film it takes a sense of reality. I think that's even part of the appeal of the comic book movies, because it gives a reality to something that wouldn't otherwise have it. Do you find that to be the case in the way people have reacted to those films when they talk to you about it?
 
(Chris Evans) : Which films? The comic book movies?
 
(Q) : Well the comic book ones. More "Captain America" and less "Fantastic Four," because I think people when they see it on the screen that way it's different than reading it in a comic book.
 
(Chris Evans): Sure, yeah, I mean that's the goal, that's the point, that's why we make them, because it's another way to take your entertainment in.
 
(Q) : Are you as comfortable in comedies as you are in serious dramas?
 
(Chris Evans): Am I as comfortable in comedies?
 
(Q) : Yeah. Some people say comedy is harder.
 
(Chris Evans) : It is harder. Am I as comfortable? Yeah, I think so. I'm a head case, so I'm always going to be a little uncomfortable in everyrthing, but I'd say I'm not more uncomfortable in comedy than I am in drama.
 
(Q) : What's more comfortable: the Captain America suit or the whipped cream bikini?
 
(Chris Evans) : Oh man. Toss up.
 
(Q) : But you have a comic side to you, so when you do comedy do you find you have to approach it differently, or does it seem to sink right in to who you are and what you're about?
 
(Chris Evans) : I'm not funny in my life. At least my friends don't tell me I'm funny. Within my group of friends I'm not the funny guy; I'm the audience. So doing funny movies is strange because like I said, I don't crack the jokes I laugh at the jokes. But I know what funny looks like, so I can impersonate it.
 
(Q) : From your friends.
 
(Chris Evans) : Yeah, exactly. I know what it's supposed to sound like and if you tell me what to say I can make it sound like it's my own. I couldn't think of it on the spot but I can fake it.
 
(Q) : Did you like the "Bucky Larson" film?
 
(Chris Evans) : I mean who didn't?
 
(Q) : What do you think Mike's reaction would be to this movie? Do you think he would be surprised how things turned out in the end? Because obviously he didn't get to see what actually happens. What do you think his reaction would be to the fact that an amazing movie was made from his story?
 
(Chris Evans) : God, I don't know. It's so tough. I spent so much time trying to know him and understand him. I don't know. I don't want to say something that would be not fair. I think I know what he would say. Again, these really brilliant guys they just kind of live in their own world. I don't think he'd even bat an eye at this. I think he'd see it and it would come and go and he'd be on to the next problem. But I don't know.
 
(Q) : What was his family's reaction?
 
(Chris Evans) : They were emotional. It was emotional. They're not just telling a story about their son, they're telling it about their son that died. They were emotional. I was going to say it was nice but that sounds strange. It was impactful.
 
(Q) : The way it was depicted at the end was it on point with what actually happened at the end of his life?
 
(Chris Evans) : You missed this part didn't you? You came late. The part at the end, it's one viewpoint. Certain members of his family do suspect foul play. The film could have existed without it, it didn't need it, but it would have been a disservice to have not represented the views of the people that gave us this story. This wasn't just some random friend of his who was like "I think he was killed." These were his father, his brother, people who loved this person felt this way and we owed it to them to at least bring that as a possibility. Because you know what? It's a possibility.
 
(Q) : He's very much a man on a mission going from mission to mission. Have you ever been that focused on one single goal? Because he seems to just zero in on that one goal and is going to do everything he possibly can to get there.
 
(Chris Evans) : I'll say yeah but it doesn't feel right saying it because in no way should my missions be compared to his missions. By no way am I on his level of brilliance; by no way am I on his level of selflessness or redemption. My mission was to break into acting. He's trying to save people's lives and I want to make movies. It's very different.
 
(Q) : Where are you at in terms of working on "The Avengers" and what else is coming up?
 
(Chris Evans) : "The Avengers" is done. We just finished. We finished two weeks ago, three weeks ago, and that's a wrap, and that'll come out in May. And then yeah "What's Your Number?" comes out the week after this does.
 
(Q) : So in wrapping up "Avengers" did you feel you got a chance to add some other things to the Captain America character that you maybe only touched on in the first one? Because I mean I loved this "Captain America," though it got mixed reviews and stuff.
 
(Chris Evans) : Did it? Dick. I thought it got great reviews.
 
(Q) : But the important thing is that you got a chance to add to it, so tell us a little bit about that.
 
(Chris Evans) : He's a fish out of water now. It's tougher for him now. The tricky thing about Cap is he's such a good man. He's not a brooding character, there's nothing you can present to him that he's not going to say "I can handle this." Everything he's going to take in stride, and that's what makes him eligible to be Captain America, but that also makes a challenge to find some edge, some darkness, and some complexity to him because he's so willing to accept the difficulties.

But with "The Avengers" yeah, I mean he's a man out of time. He's not in his world. Everyone he knows is dead. Every single person he knows, everyone he fought in the war with, everyone that he would call a brother is gone. That's a lot. So yeah, he has a little more to wrestle with in this film, which is nice. Maybe the reviews will be less mixed.

 

End.